Gifts, gratuities and hospitality

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and accountability. Currently, we do not have a formal process or register for recording gifts, gratuities, or hospitality received by our staff.

This means that to date, we have not received any reportable gifts, gratuities, or hospitality.

What we do not accept

Staff, volunteers and contractors must not accept:

• Cash or cash-equivalent items (e.g. vouchers, gift cards, lottery tickets)

• Gifts offered in return for a favour, service, or preferential treatment

• Gifts or hospitality from anyone involved in a current or future procurement or contract

• Anything that could be seen as bribery or a conflict of interest

What can be accepted

Some low-value, one-off tokens of appreciation may be accepted, such as:

• A box of chocolates or biscuits donated to a fire station after an incident

• Small seasonal gifts from members of the public (e.g. Christmas cards)

• Modest refreshments offered during official meetings

Our commitment

We aim to:

• Establish a Gifts & Hospitality Policy in line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, NFCC Code of Ethics, and public sector transparency guidance.

• Record any future gifts or hospitality in a publicly accessible register, updated regularly.

• Ensure all staff are aware of their obligations regarding gifts, gratuities, and hospitality.

Transparency and accountability

We will update this page when a formal process is implemented or when gifts and hospitality are received and recorded.

Until then, this statement reflects our current position: no reportable gifts, gratuities, or hospitality have been received.